Lima, Aug 1 (EFE).- A small aircraft crashed in southern Peru on Saturday, killing all 13 people on board, including 11 tourists.
The group had been on a flight to view the Nazca Lines (one of the Ica region’s most iconic tourist attractions) when the accident occurred just a day after a sandstorm had impacted the area.
The Nazca Provincial Municipality confirmed in a statement that the aircraft had departed from the city of Pisco to fly over the massive geoglyphs located in the desert within its jurisdiction.
The municipality expressed its deepest condolences regarding the accident involving the Aerodiana flight in the Pueblo Viejo area, which resulted in 13 fatalities (11 tourists and two pilots).
The identities of the passengers remain unknown. Police have cordoned off the crash site, where the aircraft crashed and caught fire, and are currently awaiting the arrival of the duty prosecutor and aviation authorities.
The official statement noted that the investigation into the accident and the supervision of aviation operations are being handled by the competent authorities, who will determine the causes and legal responsibilities.
Additionally, the municipality stated that it has provided support for emergency response efforts since being notified of the incident.
A spokesperson for the National Police confirmed to the media at the scene that the victims included 11 passengers, the pilot, and a co-pilot or guide. The flight departed from the Pisco air terminal after noon local time, heading toward the Nazca Lines.
The aircraft had apparently completed the overflight and was approaching the Nazca airport when it lost contact with the control tower. Another pilot in the area witnessed the crash, according to local tour guide Juan Valdivia.
This accident follows a period of intense weather in the Ica region, where the famous Paracas winds reached moderate speeds of 50 km/h in the city of Pisco, as measured by the National Service of Meteorology and Hydrology (Senamhi). EFE
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